Ice remover

ABSTRACT

An ice remover for use on a substantially flat surface comprises a container having a substantially planar first outer surface portion, which forms a discrete edge with at least a second outer surface portion of the container, and wherein the container can be filled with a fluid to raise the temperature of the substantially planar first outer surface portion for melting ice on the substantially flat surface. The container may comprise one or more further substantially planar outer surface portions with a discrete edge formed between each portion. At least one of the discrete edges may be fitted with a scraper, which may have a serrated edge, e.g. of moulded acrylic. The container may have a removable cap for filling and emptying the fluid. The container may comprise a substantially tubular handle attached to a portion of the surface on an opposing side of the container from the substantially planar first portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.K. Patent Application Serial No.GB0907165.5 filed on Apr. 27, 2009. The foregoing prior-filed, foreignpriority application is hereby incorporated by reference into thepresent application.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to windscreen ice removers andsimilar devices, and more particularly to ice removers that may befilled with a fluid to raise the temperature of at least a first outersurface portion thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In cold and temperate climates, the ambient air temperature can fall toa level at which ice is formed on vehicle windows including windscreens.Before a vehicle can safely be used the ice must be cleared from thewindows. Previously proposed solutions include those which mechanicallyseparate the ice from the window through the application of physicalforce.

Mechanical scrapers of this kind require a lot of effort andconsiderable time on the part of the user, that time being spent in theunpleasant physical conditions of the cold environment.

Alternatively a chemical de-icer can be used to lower the melting pointof the ice to remove the ice from the window. Chemical de-icers areexpensive and environmentally detrimental.

The aim of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of thepreviously proposed solutions to the aforementioned problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is provides an ice remover for use ona substantially flat surface, the ice remover comprising a containerhaving a substantially planar first outer surface portion which forms adiscrete edge with at least a second outer surface portion of thecontainer and wherein the container can be filled with a fluid to raisethe temperature of the substantially planar first outer surface portionfor melting ice on the substantially flat surface.

The substantially flat surface may have some curvature for example inthe case of a vehicle windscreen.

The container may comprise one or more further substantially planarouter surface portions with a discrete edge formed between each portion.

The further surface portion or portions may be of smaller overall sizethan the first portion in order to cater for smaller surfaces to bede-iced.

The container may be constructed from a plastics material and may be ofa double-wall construction.

The container may formed by a blow moulding process.

The container may comprise a strip of resilient material fitted to atleast one of the discrete edges.

At least one of the substantially planar surfaces may be constructedfrom or covered in a resilient material, such as rubber.

The resilience of the substantially planar surface provides advantageousperformance under temperature induced expansion and contraction and alsoto maintain full contact with the substantially flat surface in the casewhere there is some curvature in the substantially flat surface.

At least one of the discrete edges may be fitted with a scraper, whichmay have a serrated edge, e.g. of moulded acrylic.

A series of ridges or indentations can be formed on at least one of thesubstantially planar surfaces to aid the removal of water from thevehicle window.

The container may have a removable cap for filling and emptying thefluid.

The container may comprise a substantially tubular handle attached to aportion of the surface on an opposing side of the container from thesubstantially planar first portion.

The container may alternatively comprise one or more indentation in oneor more of its surface portions which provides a way for a user to holdthe container.

The invention also provides a method of removing ice from asubstantially flat surface, comprising taking a container having asubstantially planar first outer surface portion which forms a discreteedge with at least a second outer surface portion of the container,introducing a fluid into the container to raise the temperature of thesubstantially planar first portion of the outer surface and applying thefirst portion of the outer surface to the substantially flat surface.

The method comprises a further step of applying a force to the containerso that the first portion of the outer surface of the container movesacross the substantially flat surface substantially parallel to thesubstantially flat surface.

In the inventive method, the container may have any or all of theoptional features discussed above.

Embodiments of the ice remover according to the present invention willnow be described with reference to and as shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the ice removercomprising a container;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded side view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a small section of the container ofFIG. 1 showing one method of fixing component parts of the containertogether;

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of a second embodiment of the ice remover;

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the second embodiment,

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the second embodiment of the container; and

FIG. 9 shows an exploded perspective view of an alternative ice remover.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a container 10 with a first outer surface portion 12 withdiscrete edges 14 a and 14 b formed between the first outer surfaceportion 12 and further outer surface portions 16 a and 16 b, a fillercap 18 for introducing a fluid (not shown) into the container 10. Thefirst outer surface portion 12 is made of rubber. An indentation 22 isformed in an upper surface portion 24 to enable a user to hold thecontainer 10. One edge 14 b of the first outer portion 12 is fitted witha scraper blade 20 along its length.

FIG. 2 shows the first outer surface portion 12 with the discrete edge14 a formed between the first outer surface portion 12 and the secondouter surface portion 16 a. A further edge 14 b of the first outerportion 12 is fitted with a scraper blade 20 along its length. The firstouter portion 12 is attached to a main body of the container 26 via anintermediate piece 28 which includes a scraper 30. The component partsof the container 10 are fixed together to form a water-tight seal withthe filling and emptying of fluid possibly only via a filler cap 18.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherean upper surface portion 24 of the container 10 is formed withsymmetrical indentations 22 for a user's fingers and thumb.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing how the main body 26, intermediatepiece 28 and first outer surface portion 12 are attached together bypegs on the main body extending through holes in the intermediate piece28.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a connection 32 between theintermediate piece 28 of FIG. 4, the main body 26 of FIG. 4 and thefirst surface portion 12.

FIG. 6 shows a container 110 with discrete edges 114 a, 114 b, 114 c,114 d and 114 e formed between the first outer surface portion (notshown) and further outer surface portions 116 a, 116 b, 116 c, 116 d and116 e, a filler cap 118 for introducing a fluid (not shown) into thecontainer 110.

FIG. 7 shows a container 110 with discrete edges 114 a, 114 b, 114 c,114 d and 114 e formed between the first outer surface portion (notshown) and further outer surface portions 116 a, 116 b, 116 c, 116 d and116 e, a filler cap 118 for introducing a fluid (not shown) into thecontainer 110. Discrete edges 114 d and 114 e are equipped with rubberblades 134 d and 134 e respectively. The container 110 is fitted with ahandle 136.

FIG. 8 shows how the further outer surface portions, e.g. 116 e areformed with a series of ridges 138.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative ice remover, including a container 250 witha first outer surface portion 212 with discrete edges 214 a, 214 b, 214c and 214 d formed between the first outer surface portion 212 andfurther outer surface portions 216 a, 216 b, 216 c and 216 d. Thecontainer 250 has a flange 240 which is wider than the main body 226 ofthe container 250, the flange enabling a good connection between themain body 226 of container 250, an intermediate piece 228 which includesa scraper 230 and a top piece 242. The container 250, intermediate piece228 and top piece 242 are held together by screws (not shown) insertedinto threaded receptacles 244 in the top piece 242 and holes 246 in theintermediate piece 228. The top piece 242 is shaped so as to enable auser to hold the container 250. The top piece 242 is constructed with arecess (not shown) to accommodate the filler cap 218 so that when themain body 26, intermediate piece 228 and top piece 242 are fittedtogether, the filler cap 218 is flush with the surface of the top piece242 and can be removed and sealed by the user to enable the filling andemptying of the container 250. The container 250 is single walled andconstructed from blow moulded polypropylene or polyethylene, the scraper230 is of glass filled nylon, the filler cap 118 is sealed with asilicone or natural rubber “o” ring (not shown), the screws (not shown)are of stainless steel.

1. An ice remover for use on a substantially flat surface, the iceremover comprising a container having a substantially planar first outersurface portion which forms a discrete edge with at least a second outersurface portion of the container and wherein the container can be filledwith a fluid to raise the temperature of the substantially planar firstouter surface portion for melting ice on the substantially flat surface.2. The ice remover according to claim 1 wherein the container comprisesat least one further substantially planar outer surface portion with adiscrete edge formed between each portion.
 3. The ice remover accordingto claim 2 wherein the at least one further surface portion is ofsmaller overall size than the first surface portion in order to caterfor smaller surfaces to be de-iced.
 4. The ice remover according toclaim 1 wherein the container is constructed from a plastics materialand is of a double-wall construction.
 5. The ice remover according toclaim 4 wherein the container is formed by a blow moulding process. 6.The ice remover according to claim 1 wherein the container comprises astrip of resilient material on at least one of the discrete edges. 7.The ice remover according to claim 1 wherein at least one of thesubstantially planar surfaces is constructed from a resilient material.8. The ice remover according to claim 7 wherein the resilient materialis rubber.
 9. The ice remover according to claim 1 further comprising ascraper having a serrated edge.
 10. The ice remover according to claim 9wherein the serrated edge is made of moulded acrylic.
 11. The iceremover according to claim 1 wherein a series of substantially parallelridges or indentations is formed on at least one of the substantiallyplanar surfaces.
 12. The ice remover according to claim 1 furthercomprising a removable cap connected to the container.
 13. The iceremover according to claim 1 further comprising a handle attached to aportion of the surface on an opposing side of the container from thesubstantially planar first portion.
 14. The ice remover according toclaim 1 further comprising one or more grip indentations in one or moreof its surface portions.
 15. A method of removing ice from asubstantially flat surface, comprising taking a container having asubstantially planar first outer surface portion which forms a discreteedge with at least a second outer surface portion of the container,introducing a fluid into the container to raise the temperature of thesubstantially planar first portion of the outer surface and applying thefirst portion of the outer surface to the substantially flat surface.16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising applying a forceto the container so that the first portion of the outer surface of thecontainer moves across the substantially flat surface substantiallyparallel thereto.